Tool handle wedge



May 10, 1938. w. A. sues 2,117,229

TOOL HANDLE WEDGE Filed Jan. 27, 1937 lNVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1938 iPATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates .to wedges, and its general object is to provide a wedge for fixedly associating a socketed tool head of an axe, hammer, etc., to its handle, in a manner whereby casual or accidental removal of the head from the handle is practically impossible, in that the wedge is driven in that portion of the handle within the socket and not only sets up a wedging action by compressing the wood of the handle, against the Walls of the socket, but the wedge is constructed to compensate for shrinkage in the handle, due to the fact that the wedge is resilient and capable of spreading, therefore it binds the handle to the head under all conditions.

A further object is to provide a Wedge of the character set forth, that includes teeth for penetrating the wood of the handle, to prevent withdrawal of the wedge, and the latter can be easily and expeditiously driven in position for use.

Another object is to provide an attaching wedge for tool heads, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely emcient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims,

In describing the invention in detail, reference Will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a view illustrating my wedge in position for use in securing an axe head to its handle.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the wedge per se.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly to Figure it will be noted that my wedge is formed from a single strip of relatively stiff resilient metal, which is looped or folded upon itself to provide outwardly bulged, curved side members I that are spaced for the major portion of their length and have their free ends tapered or beveled to provide sharp edges 2 which are disposed in contacting engagement throughout the width thereof.

The side members at the folded portion of the strip are disposed in contacting engagement as at 3 throughout the width thereof, and for a short portion of their length, to provide a reinforced portion 4 to act as a head, in driving the wedge in position for use as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Formed on the outer surface of the side members l are teeth 5 having tapered outer faces merging at their lower ends into the side members and having fiat shoulders 6. The teeth 5 are of course integral with the side members and are preferably formed by cutting into the metal, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 3.

In the use of my wedge, it will be obvious from Figures 1 and 2 that the tool head A is placed upon its handle B in the usual manner, thence the wedge is driven into the socket receiving portion of the handle. Due to the rounded or arched portions of the side members, it will be obvious that they compress the wood of the handle in binding engagement with the walls of the socket, and as the wedge is formed from resilient material, they always tend to spread and press the wood of the handle outwardly, therefore the tool head is. held fixed to the handle under all conditions, and even though shrinkage of the handle should take place.

While I have illustrated my wedge in use with an axe for securing the head A to the handle B, it will of course be understood that the Wedge can be used with any type of socketed tool head and its handle, and willperform its intended function in an efficient manner and without fear of casual removal of the tool head or the wedge. With that in view, it will be obvious that the wedges can be made of any size and weight for use with tools of various sizes and types, as well as from any material suitable for the purpose.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wedge for securing a tool head to its handle and comprising resilient outwardly curved side members spaced for the major portion of their length and connected together at one of their ends and sharpened at their opposite ends, said side members at their connected ends being disposed in contacting engagement for a portion of their length to provide a driving head for the wedge, the edges of the sharpened ends being engaged, teeth formed on the outer surface of the side members and having flat shoulders on the upper ends thereof.

2. A wedge for securing a tool head to its handle and formed from a single strip of flat resilient material folded midway its ends to provide side members outwardly curved in spaced relation with respect to each other for the major portion of their length, said side members from the fold thereof being disposed in contacting engagement for a portion of their length to provide a driving head for securing the Wedge in position for use, said side members having sharpened free ends with the edges thereof disposed in engagement with each other, and teeth formed on the outer surfaces of the side members.

WALTER A. SUGG. 

